“I’m really driven by poetry. I’m really driven by language. But also, I’m driven by a desire to connect with the people. So I could have been a teacher. I could have been a politician. I could have been anyone that communicates with people verbally because I liked that. I wound up a performer, but […]

The author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle returns with a lonely man’s quest for love, beauty, and friendship lost.

We love Murakami, and all the cats, jazz, whiskey bars, mysterious women, and glimpses at modern Japanese life that populate his books. But there’s a world of magnificent novels out there by Japanese authors who don’t receive as much U.S. press for their work. If you’ve already devoured Murakami’s story collections (like Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman) and his acclaimed novels (including […]

Is there anything that fixes a character better in a reader’s mind than learning what food makes her mouth water? Sometimes a character’s signature food is delightful, and other times it’s revolting, but it always serves to sear their personality and proclivities into a reader’s memory. Here are some mouth-watering morsels enjoyed by six unforgettable characters:

There is hardly anything more satisfying for a book-lover than finding a troupe of like-minded bibliophiles with whom we can share our favorite reads. Book clubs are experiencing a surge in popularity for this reason, not to mention that they are also inexpensive, tons of fun, and a great way to connect with new people. […]